The Who: Tommy - 1969

I have never been too enthralled by this "rock opera" double album either, although it is by far the superior release to The Who Sell Out, as the band flex their heavier muscles in preparation for the seventies, Who's Next and stadium rock, leaving behind the sixties and tinny, jangly psychedelia. 

The sound here is a much warmer, deeper, more robust one - John Entwistle's bass and Keith Moon's drums are peerless. Subsequent listens have found me enjoying it far more, particularly tracks like the opener Overture, 1921, Amazing Journey and Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker) as well as the better-known numbers I'm Free and the iconic Soho down to Brighton paean Pinball Wizard. 

Add the Quadrophenia precursor The Acid Queen too - this was a bit of a forgotten Who classic. The vibrant instrumental Underture is great as well as too is the See Me, Feel Me antecedent of Go To The Mirror! 

There is certainly some fine stuff on the album and The Who were really laying down the foundations of their huge seventies sound - just listen to the huge bass and drum sound on Sparks. 

However, I have never been a huge fan of "concept" albums, finding that they are just too long, often punctuated by too many unnecessary interludes. So, these three have finally ended on a positive note, but what was up next suited my taste much more.... 

 

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